Stewardship is . . . bringing in the tithe.

From where does the idea of tithing originate? It comes from Malachi 3:7b-12:

Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

First we should point out that just because this text is from the Old Testament does not mean that it is no longer applicable to us today. The whole of Scripture is God’s Word to us, useful for all things.

This text reminds us that our giving is important to God and not because He needs our money (as if we have something that God needs from us). Our giving to God truly is a measure of our faith that He will continue to heap blessings upon blessings to us.

This is also the only time in the Bible that God says to test Him. We test Him and we will see that He is faithful and just and will fulfill what He says, “see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

15 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs